Brooks, Thomas
No.6031 – Private Thomas Brooks 28th Battalion AIF
Thomas Brooks was born in 1898 in South Fremantle to Thomas and Elizabeth Brooks. The family lived in Sydney Street South Fremantle and Thomas was educated at Fremantle Boys School. Thomas was also a member of the 86A Cadets where he attained the rank of Sergeant. After he left school he took up plumbing and was working as such when he enlisted into the AIF. As he was only 18 years old at the time he needed the written consent of his parents to enlist and this was given on the 18th February 1916. After this consent was given Thomas presented himself at the recruiting office in Fremantle where he was given a medical examination by an AAMC officer, Captain Morgan Richards. Thomas was found to be 5 feet 9 ½ inches in height; weight of 139 lbs; chest measurement of 32-35 inches; dark complexion; blue eyes and brown hair. His religious denomination was Church of England.
Initially assigned to No.55 Depot, Thomas was given the rank of Acting Corporal and was then in March 1916 allotted to the 14th Reinforcements to the 28th Battalion. For an unspecified reason he was removed from this group and spent more time in Camp in WA. In August 1916 he was assigned to the 18th Reinforcements to the 28th Battalion though on the 4th September he was moved to the 17th Reinforcements to the 28th Battalion. This group embarked from Fremantle aboard the “Argyllshire” on the 9th November 1916. This ship docked at Devonport England on the 10th January 1917 and the men were marched off to the 7th Training Battalion at Rollestone on the Salisbury Plains.
On the 29th March 1917 Thomas was admitted ill to Fargo Military Hospital and on recovering was discharged on the 19th April 1917. Thomas was put on a draft to France on the 25th April 1917 and after a few days at the 2nd Division Base Depot at Etaples he was taken on strength of the 28th Battalion on the 2nd May 1917, just in time for the 28th’s actions at Bullecourt. On the 5th May 1917 Thomas was admitted sick to hospital but had returned to his unit by the 11th May 1917. The 28th Battalion now had the next few months out of the line to rest and recover from their last year in France where they had been continuously in the line. They also undertook much training when it became known that they would be involved in the Third Ypres offensive.
On the 20th September 1917 the 28th Battalion took part in the battle of Menin Road and their objectives were successfully taken. Unfortunately Thomas Brooks was killed in the action. L/Cpl Manson of the 28th Battalion told Red Cross officials something of Brook’s demise.
“The Battalion was holding the position it had taken in Polygon Wood. I was near Brooks and we both heard a wounded man (either one of ours or a German) calling out for water. He lay a little way in front. Brooks said to me, “I can’t stand this any longer.” With that he went out with his water bottle, got to the man gave him a drink and then fell, I saw him hit by a sniper. Later we got his body in. I saw it. He had been hit by a bullet which passed clear through the head and he died instantly.’
Other soldiers who weren’t witnesses reported that Thomas had been killed by shellfire, but L/Cpl Manson’s account seems genuine. Thomas was buried but unfortunately due to the battle still raging around this position his grave could not be located post war and so he is commemorated on the Menin gate Memorial.
His mother Elizabeth would receive a pension after the war of 40/- per fortnight.